John David Whalen
Encyclopedia
- John David Whalen is an AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
filmFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
actor. Born as John David Woodmency Whalen, he was raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He was educated at the Boys' Latin School of Maryland in Baltimore and attended The United States Naval Academy.
After attending the Boys' Latin School of Maryland
Boys' Latin School of Maryland
Boys' Latin School of Maryland is an all-boys, college-preparatory school located in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1844, it is the oldest independent, non-sectarian secondary school in the state of Maryland. The school is divided into Lower, Middle and Upper Schools...
, he was awarded a Presidential Appointment to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. Despite his desire for a career in entertainment, he decided to uphold his commitment to the United States and complete his degree in Oceanography
Oceanography
Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
at Annapolis and accept his commission as a Naval Officer in May 2000. His naval career spread across the globe from San Diego to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to the Middle East. He resigned his commission as a Lieutenant in the US Navy in March 2005. He began to perform in several plays and short films during the next few years. Later, he moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to continue his career as an actor. After only a short time in Los Angeles, he made his feature film debut in Casino Jack in which he plays real life ex-lobbyist Kevin Ring.
Early Life and Education
- John David Woodmency Whalen was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Whalen's father is John Whalen, III a veteran of the Vietnam war who died in 1989 as a result of his service and exposure to Agent Orange. His mother, Linda Whalen, taught elementary school in the Baltimore County Public SchoolsBaltimore County Public SchoolsBaltimore County Public Schools is the school district in charge of all public schools in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The nation's 25th largest school system as of 2005, it is managed by the Board of Education, headquartered in Towson. The Superintendent is Dr. Joe A...
. Whalen's Great Grandfather was Raymond BondRaymond BondRaymond Ernest Bond is a former English cricketer. Bond was a left-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium-fast. He was born in Burnham, Buckinghamshire....
, an actor during the 1950's in such films as A Foriegn Affair, 1948 and A Man From Planet X, 1951. Whalen grew up in Baltimore, and following his father's death, his mother enrolled him at the prestigious Boys' Latin School of MarylandBoys' Latin School of MarylandBoys' Latin School of Maryland is an all-boys, college-preparatory school located in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1844, it is the oldest independent, non-sectarian secondary school in the state of Maryland. The school is divided into Lower, Middle and Upper Schools...
,. At Boys' Latin, John David discovered lacrosse and acting, although only one would dominate his interest during his childhood. Later he would play and eventually Assistant Coach on the Navy lacrosse team prior to his commissioning in the US Navy. Whalen also volunteer coaches lacrosse presently at the Palisades Charter High SchoolPalisades Charter High SchoolPalisades Charter High School is a secondary school in Los Angeles, California, United States. The public high school serves the neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades, Palisades Highlands, Kenter Canyon and portions of Brentwood...
.
US Navy
2000-2005- Whalen served as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard the USS OgdenUSS OgdenUSS Ogden may refer to:, a Tacoma-class frigate commissioned in 1943; received three battle stars for World War II service., an Austin-class amphibious transport dock; decommissioned 21 February 2007...
. and later laterally transferred to the METOC community and finished his career in Monterey, CA. Whalen was an engineer and Anti-Terrorist Officer onboard. During his tour, he was recognized as an Officer of the Deck and Command Duty Officer. He completed one nine month tour in the Middle East. His Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) was the first response deployment after September 11, 2001. During his career, John David was awarded for his service the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Unit CommendationNavy Unit CommendationThe Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944...
, Meritorious Unit CommendationMeritorious Unit CommendationThe Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
, National Defense Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalThe Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a United States armed forces military award created by George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 by Executive Order 13289. It recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11,...
; and Armed Forces Expeditionary MedalArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalThe Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy...
. . He is a Golden Shellback.
Acting Career
2006-PRESENT- Whalen's appeared in several short films prior to finding his feature film debut in Casino Jack, 2010 appearing opposite Kevin SpaceyKevin SpaceyKevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
. In his first interview, Michael Sragow says "...Whalen was the ideal choice for Kevin Ring. Casino Jack was a significant launching point for his career. The experience he gained was culminated by his training with veteran acting coach Cameron Thor. He has also begun producing projects focused on the human story, and more specifically the reemergence of the masculine and feminine archetypes. Most recently, he was a Consulting Producer on The Argument, 2011. Whalen also works in the theater community in Los Angeles. Upon first moving to Los Angeles, he accepted an acting apprenticeship following his performance in Our TownOur TownOur Town is a three-act play by American playwright Thornton Wilder. It is a character story about an average town's citizens in the early twentieth century as depicted through their everyday lives...
, at the Western Stage Theater at the Theater West Theater in Studio City, CA. Whalen continues performing in plays originating the role in Los Angeles in Women are Crazy because Men are A**holes, and traveling with that production to Chicago at the Mercury Theater. Whalen is represented by SMS Talent Agency, and Joanne Horowitz Management in Los Angeles, CA.
Interviews
Baltimore Sun Article, Baltimore's John David Whalen plays a K Street lobbyist as a good soldier in "Casino Jack, Balitmore, January 06, 2011.Interview with RealTVFilms
CBS Baltimore Interview
Publicity Photos
Casino Jack Premiere http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/L5QmXgEsose/AFI+FEST+2010+Presented+Audi+Casino+Jack+Screening/n-GsXmYf5eL/John+David+Whalen]The 2011 83rd Oscar Awards Red Carpet Report http://www.benjaminkanarekblog.com/2011/03/02/2011-83rd-oscar-awards-red-carpet-report/]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Man Left Behind | Higgins | Robert Matthews |
| 2008 | A Hard Day's Work | Chibrowski | Jeffery McLaughlin |
| 2010 | Darwin Fish | Starkey | James Cox |
| 2010 | Casino Jack | Kevin Ring | George Hickenlooper |
| 2011 | The Argument | Consulting Producer | Clara Aranovich |